Hey guys, I failed my safety today because of a few things, the headlight - brights switch doesn't seem to be functioning, it moves toward the wheel, but it doesn't click. Is there a way to fix this, or do I have to buy a new one, it's got cruise control and wiper delay, 1991 Firebird.

 

Is your steering column tilt still good? Or is it "floppy"? As in, you can move the steering wheel up & down, without touching the tilt lever?

Or JUST the Hi/Low lever seem to be bad?

 

This is probably a very simple thing to fix, and there's probably nothing actually broken. Unfortunately, it might be very complicated to put into words... even moreso to follow along. So I won't go into that until later, if it's necessary.

If it's not clicking, then it's probably because the metal rod that runs down the column isn't seated into it's hole in the white switch at the base of the column(that's where the "click" comes from). But if it is in place, then it's not clicking because the signal lever probably isn't pushing on the rod at all.

So check the switch at the base of the column first. That's simplest. And hopefully, the rod is just not in place, and you can probably just put it in its hole in the switch and be done with it. But if the rod is already in place, then this is where it gets complicated to describe the fix, because it involves disassembling the steering column. But even so, the fix, itself, is still very simple, it just takes a bit of work to get to it where to fix it.

So check the rod, and report back.

 

Now that you mention it, it does move in a certain position toward the floor and the driver door, maybe 1/2 an inch?

 

That's basically the cause....

https://www.thirdgen.org/steeringcolumn

The sloppy column allows the Hi/Low rod to pop out of the actual "changer" in the column.

Fixing my sloppy column fixed my Hi/Low problem. While your in there fixing the column, you can fix the Hi/Low. The rod slipped out of place & no longer reaches.

 

Wow, that looks like a job and a half.. Can't wait. Thanks man.

 

I failed inspection last year because of it (the tilt problem). He got in & promptly got back out 10 seconds later. Hi/Low adjuster shouldn't be a cause for failure.

$100 later at a different shop, I had a solid tilt & good headlight switch.

Good thing for me though. He said there was only ONE of the 4 bolts still holding mine together & even it was halfway out!

I could move mine almost 2 full inches, 360 degrees! Had that last bolt come loose, NO MORE STEERING....AT ALL!

Git-R-Done!

 

I noticed too, that the steering wheel squeeks when I turn it, could've been that it was -4* F out this morning..

 

I just got done adjusting my brights switch.

When you drop the under dash panel, you will see a metal rod that runs along the driver side of the column (In my car there were two rods just pull the lever and watch for the one that moves and that's your brights). This rod actuates a large white switch at the base of the column, also on the drivers side of the column. There are a couple things you want to check for. Like has been suggested, make sure the rod is in the hole of the switch. Also, make sure the switch has adequate "spring" to it. Try grabbing the rod itself and moving it back and forth and see if the white switch is moving freely.

In my case, it turned out to be the rod being a bit stiff and not allowing the switch to reset itself all the way. I tugged it abit downwards and this seemed to fix the problem.

Also as Stephen has said, if you column is loose this will also cause this issue. The original column in my car took a dump big time to the point where I was afraid it was going to fall off in my lap while driving. I had to lift the stgeering wheel up and to the left in order for the high beams to toggle.

 

Try the simple fix (rod adjustment/switch) before messing with the column.

JamesC

 

a few years back i ran into the same problem. the rod was just bit off and would not reach. beleive it or not, i dropped a "bb" into the hole then replaced the rod. its been working great ever since then.

 

Bad advice.....He's already indicated e has the "sloppy column" problem. That needs to be fixed anyways., so why "put a band-aide on a broken arm"?

Just fix it all the first time & fix it right.

 

I agree. However, starting with the simple first is nearly always the right advice.

JamesC

 

So today i attempted to take the steering column apart, and found out I didn't have the tools to do it, so I did you guys one better. I removed the plug for the brights switch under the dash, and hooked up one that goes on the floor (Like in 70's Fords), and it works perfect, cool, eh?